When you call 911 these days, operators may get your name and location, but not much more than that. A new service that D.C. is rolling out today will allow residents to provide significantly more information that could be of use of police or first responders.
Smart911 is a service that residents can use to create a profile that will be available to operators when a 911 call is placed from a particular phone. The profile can include home and work addresses associated with phone number, specific medical conditions and disabilities, all family members, vehicle information and even information about pets. According to a press release, “This information enables emergency responders to have a comprehensive understanding of the scene before they arrive.”
More than 300 jurisdictions already use the service, which was created by a Massachusetts-based company and will cost D.C. $70,000 a year.
Martin Austermuhle